Teenagers are young, naive and impressionable. They are also insecure and usually sometimes unable to express themselves, so they belittle others. They are forced on a daily basis to do things that they really don't want to do. They often find themselves doing something they said they would never do. Due to the influence of those around them, they try to hide their insecurities by saying things that make others feel bad about themselves. The above traits describe the two main characters of the short story “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”. Both Bernice and Marjorie are young teenagers facing the pressure of being popular and fitting in. Bernice, being the quietest and shyest girl, has to try to fit in a place where she feels she doesn't belong. Marjorie, the loudest and seemingly confident girl, shows who she is, being an extremely jealous person at heart. Both characters in the story face insecurities, each reacting in their own way. Bernice, from the short story "Bernice Bobs Her Hair", is no different from the average teenager in almost any society in the world. Bernice is under pressure and trying to adapt to a society in which she feels uncomfortable. When he conforms, changes, and begins to feel semi-comfortable, the situation changes and people question his sincerity. It doesn't matter if she sticks to what she knows or conforms to those around her, someone is still dissatisfied with her. Bernice is not a sociable girl. He never really had any friends. The people she considered her friends back home were only around her because she had money. When she goes to stay with her cousin Marjorie, Bernice is unpopular and makes her seem insecure. “Bernice felt a vague pain that she wasn't currently busy being... middle of paper... Marjorie, I too have tried to cover up insecurities using trust. I used my very loud voice to sound confident to those around me. It didn't really work; everyone thought I was loud. Both girls were two totally different people dealing with insecurities in their own ways. But both are commonly trying to fill a void, silence self-doubt, and fit in. Bernice, the modest, nervous and silent girl, insecure about not fitting in, changes herself and ultimately finds herself unhappy. Marjorie, the bold and domineering girl, makes others feel bad about themselves by humiliating them. In doing so, she pushed the person who admired her most, Bernice, to cut her hair, leaving Marjorie the laughing stock of her town. Because of insecurities, teens are driven to lash out at others or try to change themselves to be what others want them to be.